The U.S. Department of State warned American citizens against traveling to Afghanistan due to ongoing security concerns, including terrorism, kidnapping, wrongful detention, and criminal activity.
In a travel advisory, issued on Monday, December 18, the department cited the presence of multiple active terrorist groups and noted U.S. citizens are specifically targeted for kidnapping and wrongful detention. “The Taliban have harassed and detained aid and humanitarian workers,” the advisory stated. “Foreigners’ activities may be viewed with suspicion, and reasons for detention may be unclear. Even with proper registration, the risk of detention remains high.”
The advisory further highlighted the Taliban’s frequent refusal to allow U.S. officials to check on detained Americans, even by phone. “Detention can be lengthy, and access to medical care and the possibility of physical abuse are significant concerns,” it added.
The Department of State urged US citizens who are in Afghanistan to depart immediately via commercial means “if possible.”
The advisory comes amid ongoing concerns about the Taliban’s treatment of foreign nationals. In August, the group confirmed holding 16 foreigners, including five women, without specifying their identities or charges. In September, the group detained 18 employees of an international NGO, including an American female surgeon, accusing them of “promoting Christianity.”
It remains unclear how many U.S. citizens are currently detained by the Taliban. The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed in March that several Americans are detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan. He said, that their families have asked the American government to protect their identities and don’t speak publicly of their cases.
Similar travel warnings have been issued by other countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, and Australia citing security concerns.
The Taliban has a history of holding Westerners hostage for political leverage and prisoner exchanges. In 2022, the group released, Mark Frerichs, a former U.S. Navy diver in exchange for Bashir Noorzai, a drug trafficker serving a life sentence in the U.S. In 2014, they freed a U.S. soldier in exchange for five Taliban leaders held at Guantanamo Bay, some of whom now hold senior positions within the group’s current administration.
In response to the advisory from the US Department of State, the Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told TOLOnews that such statements are based on incorrect information and that Afghanistan is safe and there is no threat to foreign nationals.
